Young Worker Rights & Resources

If you're a teen and you have a job, you have rights. It's important to know what you should be paid, how many hours you can work, if you need a permit and what types of jobs you can't do under the law. Do you know what to do to keep yourself safe and healthy? Click here for our Teen Worker Rights factsheet, or check out any of the topics below.

$3.00 per hour- Wait staff, service employees, and service bartenders (if employee regularly receives tips of more than $20 a month ($30 under federal law), and if their average hourly tips, when added to the service rate, are equal to or exceed the basic minimum wage)

$8.00 per hour-Agricultural employees

There are laws that protect teens from doing dangerous work

In Massachusetts no worker under 18 may:

Drive a motor vehicle or a forklift (except golf carts in certain circumstances)

Handle, serve or sell alcoholic beverage (Yes, if you are 18 you can serve alcohol)

Work where there is exposure to radiation or toxic substances

*The exceptions include teens workers under 18 employed at a kiosk, cart, or stand in an enclosed shopping mall that has security personnel, either a private security company or a public police detail every night from 8:00 p.m. until the mall is closed to the public.

Click here to download our "Are you a working teen?" factsheet

For More Resources or to Take Action:

For work-related concerns or for help taking action call MassCOSH Teens Lead at Work 617.825.7233 x 13